Container, and method for filling a container

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a container, in particular a large-volume disposable container, for example a keg ( 1 ) for accommodating liquids, in particular for accommodating drinks, and to an associated method for filling such a container. The container is provided with a connection fitting ( 2 ) with seal ( 3 ). Upon delivery of the container, the connection fitting ( 2 ) and/or the seal ( 3 ) define/defines a passage ( 8 ) which is closed when the container is dispatched.

The invention relates to a container, in particular a large-volume disposable container made, for example, of plastics material, such as, for example, a keg for accommodating liquids of all kinds, in particular for accommodating beverages, said container including a connection fitting with seal.

Such containers are known in practice and are described, for example, in WO 2008/083782 A2. Comparable developments are the object of DE 101 38 365 A1 or DE 10 2006 034 638 A1.

Large-volume containers with a content of typically in excess of 10 litres, in particular 30 litres or 50 litres, are generally used to store liquids, in particular beverages such as, for example, beer, and to dispense them under pressure. Thus, special large-volume containers, so-called kegs are known, which are returnable vessels that have been developed for the industrial filling and sterile storage of beverages. The term “keg” originates from the English language and stands for “small cask”. Kegs have been used more and more in gastronomy and are increasingly also used in the private area in conjunction with associated tap dispensers.

As a rule, kegs have on their top side a valve, the so-called keg head. A suitable tap head can be mounted on this valve or the keg head, said tap head supplying a fuel gas, for example carbon dioxide or even nitrogen, from an external container and thus generating an overpressure in the interior of the container in question. Said overpressure ensures that the liquid stored in the vessel or container can be removed via a rising pipe and a tap dispenser. The tap head seals the container tightly such that the liquid stored therein remains sterile.

By means of the overpressure created by the fuel gas in the keg, when a tap cock is opened the beverage content is pressed out through the rising pipe in the interior of the keg. If the tap head is removed, the valve closes the keg in an air-tight manner such that further storage of the content is possible. Even the drying up of any residue that may be present is prevented. The overpressure in the vessel interior is maintained.

The keg head or the valve realized at this position represent at the core a special development of the connection fitting and the seal specified in the preamble. At all events the seal ensures that if the tap head is removed, the container or the keg retains the previously built-up overpressure in the interior of the container. As a rule, an overpressure of approximately 3 bar or more is worked with here.

In the case of kegs in general and plastic disposable kegs especially, two problems are observed without exception in practice. First of all, the filling of the containers or kegs is regularly carried out when the connection fitting is already mounted in a container neck. In the majority of cases, the connection fitting is made up by a fitting body and an abutment for the seal or it has such an abutment. By the fitting body of the connection fitting and consequently the connection fitting being mounted in the container neck, the opening available for the filling process in the container neck is forcibly reduced. This possibly results in turbulence as the desired liquid or more precisely the liquid product flows into the container. Such turbulence can lead to foam formation depending on the character of the liquid product, which in the final analysis reduces the filling speed.

A further disadvantage is that the known connection fittings are delivered in the closed state and are cleaned with the container, the so-called container bubble. This means that there is the risk that the connection fitting has possible dirt accumulation in particular in the region of the closed sealing faces. This can only be removed, if at all, in a very expensive manner.—This is where the invention fits in.

The technical problem underlying the invention is to develop further a container of this type such that the filling process is made easier and dirt accumulation on the connection fitting can be excluded. In addition, an associated method for filling such a container is to be provided.

To solve this technical problem, it is provided in the case of a generic container, in particular a large-volume disposable container produced, for example, from plastics material according to the genus, that the connection fitting and/or the seal in the delivery state have a passage which is closed in the dispatch state.

Therefore according to the invention, the difference is made between a delivery state of the connection fitting or more precisely of the seal and a dispatch state of the connection fitting or more precisely of the seal. Up to now and in the prior art this has not been the case because the connection fitting and more precisely the seal has always been delivered closed and connected to the container bubble.

Within the framework of the invention, however, the connection fitting and/or the seal in the delivery state now have a passage or they define such a passage. In this way it is ensured that the connection fitting can be cleaned at any time and without any problems in the delivery state. For the passage makes a simple disinfecting or cleaning operation possible simply in such a manner that the connection fitting or more precisely the seal in the said delivery state is rinsed through shortly and sweetly in the simplest case.

Further advantages are produced over and above this. Thus according to the invention, it is possible to fill the container without the connection fitting being mounted. I.e. the filling operation can be realized directly via the container neck such that the entire cross section of said container neck is available. This leads to an increase in the filling speed through the enlarged filling cross section and additionally by the fact that turbulence that has been observed up to now does not occur at all or does not occur in such a marked manner.

The connection fitting with the seal is not inserted into the container neck until the container has been completely filled. In this case the connection fitting or more precisely the seal, in the delivery state now as before, ensures that any overpressure created in the container during this operation or present in the container is able to escape easily through the passage. Not until the connection fitting or more precisely the seal has been inserted into the filled container or its container neck, is the container as a whole transferred into the dispatch state, in which state the passage is closed such that the liquid or more precisely the liquid product accommodated in the container is not able to escape.

For this purpose, the invention proposes that the connection fitting is not connected to the container neck until the filling operation has been completed or not until after the end of the filling operation, and in this way the connection fitting and/or the seal is transferred into the dispatch state. This occurs through the simultaneous closing of the at least one or of the plurality of passages. In the case of this operation, the connection fitting with the seal located therein is impinged upon in general with a force for the connection to the container neck. This can, for example, be a radially acting force, such as is described as an example for various developments in WO 2008/083782 A2.

At all events, the change from the delivery state to the dispatch state is accomplished by the said force impingement on the connection fitting or more precisely the seal, preferably in the radial direction. For in this operation, the seal, previously assuming an at least partially open position in relation to the connection fitting, is closed. In this case, generally speaking, the seal in the delivery state is locked relative to the connection fitting in a position that is in contrast detached.

In other words, the seal in the delivery state has a detached or spaced position in relation to an associated sealing surface in or on the connection fitting. This spaced or detached position of the seal in relation to the said sealing surface in the delivery state is raised during the transfer into the dispatch state, such that the seal abuts against the sealing surface or sealing surfaces and the connection fitting experiences the desired and necessary closure in the dispatch state.

The invention proposes in detail a snap-in holder for the seal for this purpose. Said snap-in holder may be realized such that the seal in the delivery state engages in a recess in the connection fitting or in the rising pipe. In general, said recess is located in a rising pipe such that the seal, surrounding the rising pipe generally in a ring-shaped manner, engages by way of its inner ring surface completely or partially in the likewise ring-shaped recess in the rising pipe. The seal is impinged upon by a spring, the so-called closing spring.—In principle, however, the seal can also be held in the detached position on the rising pipe by a protruding nose or generally in the interior of the connection fitting.

By the seal, in the case in example, engaging by way of its inner ring surface in the ring-shaped recess or more precisely annular groove in the rising pipe, it is held in the delivery state in the described detached position in relation to the sealing surfaces in opposition to the force of the closing spring. In this way, the addressed passage is formed, in the development of at least one annular gap, which is formed between the inner ring surface of the seal and/or its outer ring surface and the associated rising pipe or more precisely fitting body. Any possible overpressure in the delivery state can escape through said passage or through the annular gap, after the filling of the container and the inserting of the connecting fitting or more precisely the seal. The connection fitting or more precisely the seal is then transferred into the dispatch state.

To this end, the connection fitting experiences in a regular manner a radial force impingement, for example in such a manner that the diameter of the connection fitting or the diameter of its fitting body is reduced or enlarged. In both cases this radial force impingement ensures that the seal is no longer held by way of its inner ring surface in the case in example in the annular groove in the rising pipe and is placed against the sealing surfaces by the force of the closing spring. In principle, the rising pipe could also experience an axial impingement such that as a result thereof the inner ring surface of the seal becomes detached from the annular groove and the seal thereafter assumes it closed position. This then applies to the connection fitting as a whole.

Obviously the change from the delivery state to the dispatch state can also be realized in another manner. The decisive factor is solely that the connection fitting and/or the seal in the delivery state assume a locking position or another type of temporary position with a passage being defined thereby. This temporary position or locking position is lifted mechanically when the delivery state transfers into the dispatch state. This is effected in the majority of cases at the same time the connection fitting or more precisely the seal are fixed to the container neck of the container. Undoubtedly this can also be effected chronologically. I.e. the delivery state is initially set and then a connection between the container neck and the connection fitting or more precisely the seal is effected or vice versa.

As a result, a container and an associated method for filling such a container are described, by means of which the filling speed can be clearly increased and moreover the risk of the permanent accumulation of dirt on the connection fitting is significantly reduced. These are the essential advantages of the invention.

The invention is described in more detail below by way of a drawing representing just one exemplary embodiment. The single FIGURE shows a container according to the invention in the region of its container neck.

The FIGURE shows a container which, in the exemplary embodiment, is a keg 1 made of plastics material, for example PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Such kegs 1 are used as disposable containers for accommodating beverages, for example beer. Once the keg I has been emptied, its volume can generally be reduced or it can be compressed and then it can be supplied for recycling.

The keg 1 or generally speaking the large-volume disposable container produced, for example, from plastics material is provided with a connection fitting 2 with seal 3. The connection fitting 2 or more precisely seal 3 is also referred to as valve or keg head 2, 3. The basic design also includes a rising pipe 4, by means of which the liquid that has been filled into the interior of the container 1 and is located there is pressed out under pressure.

The connection fitting 2 in detail is made up by a fitting body 2 a and an optional abutment 2 b which is simply indicated. The fitting body 2 a is a ring-shaped flange, which is L-shaped in cross section and is inserted into a neck 5 of the keg 1. Once inserted, the connection fitting 2 as a whole or the fitting body or more precisely the flange 2 a may be connected to the neck 5 of the keg 1 in a force-locking and/or form-locking manner, as explained in detail in WO 2008/083782 A2, which has already been described in the introduction. Over and above this, the fitting body or flange 2 a acts as a supporting and abutting element for a spring or more precisely closing spring 6, which is supported by way of its foot on the fitting body 2 a and by way of its head acts on the seal 3, which abuts against an abutment 7 at the head of the rising pipe 4 and against sealing surfaces formed at that location. The rising pipe 4 is arranged in a fixed manner in the keg 1 in the example, but can in principle also be moved in the axial direction, as has already been described in the introduction.

The invention actually differentiates namely between a delivery state of the connection fitting 2 or more precisely of the seal 3, as is represented in the FIGURE by the continuous line, and a dispatch state, as is represented by the broken line. In the delivery state the connection fitting 2 or more precisely the seal 3 define at least one passage 8 in the form of one or more annular gaps, through which, for example, any overpressure located in the keg 1 can escape. Contrary to this, if the connection fitting 2 or more precisely the seal 3 assume their dispatch position (shown by the broken line), the passage 8 is thus closed.

In the first named case, the seal 3 has an at least partially open position in relation to the connection fitting 2. Actually, in the delivery state the seal 3 is locked relative to the connection fitting 2 in a position that is in contrast detached. The seal 3 has in detail a snap-in holder 9 for this purpose.

Said snap-in holder 9, in the case in example, is a recess or annular groove 9, into which the seal 3 engages by way of its inner ring surface 3 a. Contrary to this, the outer ring surface 3 b of the seal 3 abuts against the fitting body 3 a. The connection fitting 2, the seal 3, the rising pipe 4, the keg 1 and also the container neck 5 are realized overall in a rotationally symmetrical manner compared to a common axis A. For this reason, the seal 3 has a circular-surface-like character with the already mentioned inner ring surface 3 a and the outer ring surface 3 b.

As already pointed out, the seal 3 engages by way of its inner ring surface 3 a in the annular groove 9 in the rising pipe 4, in the delivery state of the connection fitting 2 or more precisely of the seal 3. This means that the seal 3 has a spacing B relative to the abutment 7 at the rising pipe 4 and as a result to the sealing surface formed at this position. In this delivery state, after the filling of the keg 1 or generally speaking of the container, the connection fitting 2 with the seal located therein is inserted into the container neck 5. In this way, any pressure being built-up possibly above the filled liquid or the liquid product can easily be relieved, because said pressure leaves the container or more precisely the keg 1 through the passage 8 defined in the delivery state.

After, in the delivery state, the connection fitting 2 with the seal 3 has been inserted into the container neck 5 of the filled container 1 and any possible overpressure has been able to escape from the interior of the container, at the end of the filling operation the connection fitting 2 or more precisely the seal 3 is transferred into the dispatch state. At the same time, the connection fitting 2 or more precisely the seal 3 is connected to the container neck 5. In the majority of cases, the connection between the connection fitting 2 and the container neck 5 ensures together and practically at the same time that the connection fitting 2 or more precisely the seal 3 are transferred into the dispatch state by closing the passage 8.

In order to achieve this in detail, in the exemplary embodiment the fitting body 2 a is impinged upon with a force F acting in the radial direction R such that the seal 3 experiences a slight deformation and its inner ring surface 3 a leaves the annular groove 9 or the snap-in holder 9 formed in this manner. This means that the seal 3 gives up its at least partially open position in relation to the connection fitting 2 in the delivery state, because the closing spring 6 ensures that the seal 3 now coming free from the rising pipe 4 is pressed against the abutment 7. This means that the keg 1 is closed and the liquid located in the interior cannot (any longer) come out. The container is now as a result in the dispatch state and can be provided, for example, with the tap head described in the introduction in order to press out the liquid or the liquid product that is located in the interior. 

1. A disposable apparatus for containing a large volume of liquid, said apparatus comprising: a keg for accommodating liquids, a connection fitting, and a seal, wherein the connection fitting and/or the seal transitions between a delivery state and a dispatch state, wherein, in the delivery state, the connection fitting and the seal define a passage into the keg, said passage being closed in the dispatch state.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, in the delivery state, the seal assumes an at least partially open position relative to the connection fitting.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, in the delivery state, the seal assumes a detached position in which it is locked relative to the connection fitting.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connection fitting with the seal located therein in the delivery state is inserted into a neck of the keg after a filling process.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the connection fitting with the seal located therein in the delivery state transitions into the dispatch state in response to pressing by way of the neck.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the transition from the delivery state into the dispatch state is accomplished by application of force on the connection fitting and/or on the seal.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the applied force is applied in a radial direction.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a rising pipe having a recess that, in the delivery state, engages the seal.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seal comprises a plastics material.
 10. A method for filling a large-volume disposable container for accomodating a liquid, said method comprising: filling the container with the liquid via a container neck thereof; inserting a connection fitting with a seal into the container neck, wherein the connection fitting and/or the seal transitions between a delivery state and a dispatch state, wherein, in the delivery state, the connection fitting and/or seal defines a passage; connecting the connection fitting to the container neck, thereby causing the connection fitting and/or the seal to transition into the dispatch state by closing the passage.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein connecting the connection fitting with the seal located therein comprises applying a radial force for connection to the container neck.
 12. An apparatus for containing a large volume of a beverage, said apparatus comprising: a keg for holding the beverage; and means for selectively sealing the keg, said means for selectively sealing being configured to transition between a delivery state and a dispatch state, wherein in said delivery state, said means for selectively sealing defines a passage that is closed when said means for selectively sealing is in said dispatch state.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said means for selectively sealing comprises means for transitioning between said dispatch state and said delivery state in response to a force applied thereto.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein said keg has an axis that extends through a neck thereof, said axis defining a radial direction perpendicular thereto, and wherein said means for transitioning is configured to respond to a force applied in said radial direction. 